Questions about work in the UK and the HSMP

Hello all. I am an American who recently graduated with my Masters Degree and I have found a staffing service in the UK that seems to have scores of jobs that would be available to me. I have talked with them directly on the phone and they seem interested in helping me, but they do not have much experience in recruiting from overseas. Here are a couple of the questions that I have...some of them overlap with imigration topics, but only in regards to finding work.

1) What is the work structure like in the UK? What is a typical work week and how much holiday is taken by the average UK citizen?

I ask this because I am considering applying for the highly skilled migrant program through the Home Office, and to meet the requirements for experience it might take a little finesse. I have worked off and on full and part time during my graduate studies and  I am real close to amount of time to meet the experience requirement (2 years full time). My line of work (urban planning) has been identified as being understaffed in the UK as part of the Science & Engineering Graduates programme (although I didn't graduate from a UK university). I would prefer to get the HSMP clearance because it allows you to travel to the UK and look for work, instead of having to find employment and then apply for clearance, as this is a considerable obstacle for employers.

2) Has anyone had experience in obtaining a position overseas and getting clearance under a traditional worker scheme? Has anyone had experience with interviewing for a position via a conference call?

Ideally, I would be able to go and interview for these positions in person. But I simply cannot afford several trips across the pond, especially if I was not to be offered a job.

3) I don't believe I would be able to secure a drivers license immediately, and would have to rely upon public transportation for awhile. Is this usually frowned upon by potential employers?

SK, I'm not positive about this but I think that you can go to the UK for job interviews as long as they are scheduled before leaving the states. I believe that the only restriction is if you go on a visitors visa, then try to schedule interviews. Again, not positive but I think this is correct. 

Also, there are numerous UK recruitment firms that are very knowledgable about recruiting in the US. They know all of the ins-and-outs. BBT is a rather sizeable recruiting agency which recruits a wide variety of skilled workers. Even if you are committed to working with the recruiter you are currently dealing with, visiting BBT's web site may provide you with additional information.

Good luck on your search!

You wouldn't happen to have their website address, would you?

Thanks for the tip.

Yup, here it is: http://www.bbtworldwide.com/

Aren't you somewhere in NC? I'm in Hickory. I'm a social worker and am planning to go over in Feb. 06. I have an interview next month in NYC for a job in the Borough of Merton (SW London). The UK recruits a lot of social workers from the States.

This forum is a wonderful resource. There's a lot of information available. I urge you to use the search for questions you have. Just put the keywords in and it will bring up threads in which most of your questions may already have been answered.

Are you interviewing at the BBT place in NY?

I was wondering if it was possible to interview over here, becuase finding a job across the pond is a bit of a pain if you had to go over there and blow a bunch of change and not get the job.

Dear Sklein,

I am going to London shortly on the HSMP visa.  I have all my immigration papers cleared and doing the job hunt as well.  Feel free to PM me on your specific questions regarding this visa.  Its a wonderful way to get into the UK, if you are qualified to do so.

Hello all. I am an American who recently graduated with my Masters Degree and I have found a staffing service in the UK that seems to have scores of jobs that would be available to me. I have talked with them directly on the phone and they seem interested in helping me, but they do not have much experience in recruiting from overseas. Here are a couple of the questions that I have...some of them overlap with imigration topics, but only in regards to finding work.

1) What is the work structure like in the UK? What is a typical work week and how much holiday is taken by the average UK citizen?

I ask this because I am considering applying for the highly skilled migrant program through the Home Office, and to meet the requirements for experience it might take a little finesse. I have worked off and on full and part time during my graduate studies and  I am real close to amount of time to meet the experience requirement (2 years full time). My line of work (urban planning) has been identified as being understaffed in the UK as part of the Science & Engineering Graduates programme (although I didn't graduate from a UK university). I would prefer to get the HSMP clearance because it allows you to travel to the UK and look for work, instead of having to find employment and then apply for clearance, as this is a considerable obstacle for employers.

2) Has anyone had experience in obtaining a position overseas and getting clearance under a traditional worker scheme? Has anyone had experience with interviewing for a position via a conference call?

Ideally, I would be able to go and interview for these positions in person. But I simply cannot afford several trips across the pond, especially if I was not to be offered a job.

3) I don't believe I would be able to secure a drivers license immediately, and would have to rely upon public transportation for awhile. Is this usually frowned upon by potential employers?

1)  For the HSMP Visa, there are 2 separate applications: one for individuals under 26 years of age (or 28, I forget) and another for those above that age.  The points allocated in regard to experience, education, and earnings (the three main criteria for passing) are different.  When I applied, there was a 6 month backlog according to the website but my application was processed in 3 weeks!  Although, I am based here and had been working here for 3+ years before I applied which may have helped.  It is a great thing to not have to be tied to a single employer.  You have nothing to lose by applying.  If, in the interim, you get approached for a job then you can notify the Home Office so they may expedite your application.

The average UK citizen gets about 25 vacation days.  Some may get 20 while others may get 27 or 30.  I tend to take my 25 days every year as do most others I know.  If not, you get a payment at year end for unused days or can carry over (generally if only a few days) and must use them within the first 90 days of the year.

2)  I've interviewed over the phone for 1st interviews even though I am based in London.  Some companies elect this approach.  I've interviewed over the phone for a role in Hong Kong and then made plans to meet colleagues in the London office for the next round.  Same could happen with you in the US if a company is in your city.  Ultimately, it depends on the policy of the company and department you are interviewing with.

When I got my job in London 4 years ago, I interviewed in NY with the US office who then inquired if I was interested in working in London.  Then I met a representative from London in NY who then put me in touch with management in London, over the phone.

3)  I've been in the UK for 3+ years and haven't driven once.  If you drive into Zone 1, you have to pay a daily Congestion Charge.  It was 5 quid but it may have increased recently.  This is on top of daily parking and petrol costs (which are about $8/gallon - astronomical compared to US prices).  Needless to say, taking public transportation, riding a bike, walking, or owning a scooter (avoids the congestion charge) are very popular here. 

Good luck.

Are you interviewing at the BBT place in NY?

I was wondering if it was possible to interview over here, because finding a job across the pond is a bit of a pain if you had to go over there and blow a bunch of change and not get the job.

Sorry it took me so long to respond to this query. I am interviewing through TTM, a London based recruiter but will be interviewing in NYC next month. The London Boroughs come over here several times a year to interview Social Workers. I'm not sure how this works with other occupations. Due to the number of ope positions in the UK in SW, and the level of recruiting done in the states, this just seems to be a more efficient way for them to recruit stateside. Some recruiters specialize in the social care field, others have a broader range. I actually just did a google to come up with recruiters in my field.

Try this: http://www.google.co.uk/ Type in "urban planning jobs in uk" and select "pages from UK". You might find some hits that way. If you can't find any recruiters that you can interview with stateside, British Airways sometimes runs great airfare specials. If you can schedule some interviews at a time in which BA is running a special, it could significantly reduce your costs of job hunting over there.

Good luck and feel free to pm me if you want to talk more.

another option is teleconference as you mentioned. I was explained by BBT that some recruiters will arrange interviews via teleconference... ie at the local kinkos with facilities or some other local place who can set that up.

as for staffing services with no experience doing overseas recruiting, keep working with them if they seem interested in placing you. there is always the old fashioned phone interview, but i  imagine employers would rather see you face to face.

that is sort of my question at the moment. i am an american social worker trying to find a job in the UK. I am working with recruiters and applying directly to councils with open positions in the meanwhile. Paula1219 was correct, from my understanding as well, if you have a prearranged job interview you may enter (i imagine it must be on some other visa than a visitor's visa?). I certainly don't have the means to do that either especially from California 

I'd be all over the HSMP if I could... and option for you?

persistence seems to be key!

good luck!

oh my gosh! if only the US had something similar for suitably qualified british people! why is everything so "one way" between our two countries?

the closest thing is the H1B visa, which is subject to very low caps which are always exhausted within 3 o4  months, ties you to a specific employer (so no job mobility and a 10 day window to leave the country after you quit or are laid off), mandates that the employer pay you above the Dept of Labor's specified average salary for that profession, costs approx $2000 (which the job seeker isn't permitted to pay - it has to come from the employer, so really difficult to move jobs), takes months to process, and doesn't grant you indefinite leave to remain even after 6 yrs. i know people who studied for 4 yrs in the US and then had a work permit for 6 years and then had 10 days to up 'n out.



1)  For the HSMP Visa, there are 2 separate applications: one for individuals under 26 years of age (or 28, I forget) and another for those above that age.  The points allocated in regard to experience, education, and earnings (the three main criteria for passing) are different.  When I applied, there was a 6 month backlog according to the website but my application was processed in 3 weeks!  Although, I am based here and had been working here for 3+ years before I applied which may have helped.  It is a great thing to not have to be tied to a single employer.  You have nothing to lose by applying.  If, in the interim, you get approached for a job then you can notify the Home Office so they may expedite your application.

The average UK citizen gets about 25 vacation days.  Some may get 20 while others may get 27 or 30.  I tend to take my 25 days every year as do most others I know.  If not, you get a payment at year end for unused days or can carry over (generally if only a few days) and must use them within the first 90 days of the year.

2)  I've interviewed over the phone for 1st interviews even though I am based in London.  Some companies elect this approach.  I've interviewed over the phone for a role in Hong Kong and then made plans to meet colleagues in the London office for the next round.  Same could happen with you in the US if a company is in your city.  Ultimately, it depends on the policy of the company and department you are interviewing with.

When I got my job in London 4 years ago, I interviewed in NY with the US office who then inquired if I was interested in working in London.  Then I met a representative from London in NY who then put me in touch with management in London, over the phone.

3)  I've been in the UK for 3+ years and haven't driven once.  If you drive into Zone 1, you have to pay a daily Congestion Charge.  It was 5 quid but it may have increased recently.  This is on top of daily parking and petrol costs (which are about $8/gallon - astronomical compared to US prices).  Needless to say, taking public transportation, riding a bike, walking, or owning a scooter (avoids the congestion charge) are very popular here. 

Good luck.